Of all Hayao Miyazaki’s films, Castle in the Sky is maybe one of the most straightforward, least impressionistic adventures in his canon. It’s also one of his best. The Gulliver’s Travels-inspired tale follows two kids fleeing shady government operatives as they search for a floating island that was once home to a great civilization. It’s one hell of an adventure, with thrilling sequences and whimsical set pieces. It also has the hallmarks of Miyazaki’s thematic obsessions: the conflict between nature and technology, the freedom of aviation, antagonists turned allies and plucky youth saving the day. There’s even a charming, worker-run mining village in line with the director’s dalliances with Marxism. It sounds like a lot, but the traditional hero’s-journey structure makes it a great entry point for Studio Ghibli films. Plus, you’ve seen its influence somewhere since its 1986 release: The steampunk aesthetics, the iconic moss-covered robot and the melancholic floating island have inspired settings throughout animation and video games. Attend the dub for Cloris Leachman’s delightful turn as a sky pirate and to hear Mark Hamill put on a voice-acting clinic as the film’s main villain (no surprise for animation’s definitive Joker). Visit gkids.com/ghiblifest for showtimes, tickets and to see what’s next in the series.
Aug. 22-26 at local Regal and AMC theaters
